Megadeth 'Countdown To Extinction: Live' To Be Released Worldwide On September 24th 2013

Megadeth 'Countdown To Extinction: Live' To Be Released Worldwide On September 24th 2013

Last November and December, MEGADETH blazed hot on the band's "Countdown to Extinction 20th Anniversary Tour," ripping through their entire double platinum 1992 album from start to finish before performing other classics from their recorded catalog. On September 24 (September 23 outside of North America), Tradecraft/UMe will release Countdown to Extinction: Live, a definitive document of the acclaimed, sold-out tour. Recorded and filmed at Los Angeles' Fox Theatre last December, Countdown to Extinction: Live will be available in several video and audio configurations, including deluxe Blu-ray/CD, DVD, CD, Digital Album, Mastered for iTunes Album, and Longform Digital Video.

In addition to Megadeth's blistering performance of the entire Countdown to Extinction album, including the essential "Symphony Of Destruction," "Foreclosure Of A Dream," "Sweating Bullets," and "Skin O' My Teeth," Countdown to Extinction: Live features all of the other Megadeth classics the band performed at the epic concert, including "Holy Wars" and "Hangar 18" from 1990's Rust in Peace, "Peace Sells" from the band's influential, platinum certified 1986 album, Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?, and "Trust" from 1997's platinum certified Cryptic Writings.

Megadeth's fifth studio album, Countdown to Extinction was recorded in Los Angeles in 1992. American tensions weren't limited to LA, as the Gulf War was still fresh in people's minds, the state of the environment was becoming headline news, and out of this turmoil, Megadeth was inspired to create Countdown to Extinction, considered by many to be the band's best and most accessible album. None of their previous records were as polemical as the sonic missiles launched by 'Countdown.' Megadeth laced the songs with acid-tongued commentary about subjects ranging from the futility of war ("Architecture of Aggression") to the senseless brutality of caged hunting ("Countdown to Extinction"). "Foreclosure of a Dream" sampled George Bush's infamous "Read my lips" speech, making a statement about taxation endangering the American Dream.

Thanks to a perfect balance of hard-rock song structures, epic choruses, and fleet-fingered guitar work, Countdown to Extinction became an instant classic, benefiting from copious MTV and radio play. SPIN magazine raved that 'Countdown' "may just be the finest thrash-metal album ever made." The album shot to No. 2 on the Billboard chart (it may have hit No. 1, if not for Billy Ray Cyrus' long chart-topping reign with Some Gave All), and it was certified double platinum in the U.S. within two years.

Megadeth was in top form, with Dave Mustaine, the band's then 31-year-old singer and guitarist leading the album's assault with lyrics like "You know your worth when your enemies praise your architecture of aggression," not to mention his venomous rhythm guitar attack with his longtime bandmate completed the picture, as bassist David Ellefson jammed dizzying arrays of low-end thunder. Megadeth sounded hungry, and the band was rewarded when the album earned a GRAMMY Award nomination (Best Metal Performance) and when its title cut garnered a Genesis Award from the Humane Society for raising awareness for animal rights issues.

In November 2012, Capitol released an expanded and remastered 20th Anniversary Edition of Countdown to Extinction, personally overseen by Mustaine. The 2CD lift-top box and digital release pairs the remastered original album with an exclusive, previously unreleased 1992 concert, recorded live at San Francisco's Cow Palace.

In a career nearing 30 years, Megadeth has sold more than 38 million albums worldwide, earning five consecutive platinum albums and numerous accolades along the way, including 11 GRAMMY® nominations. The band's latest studio album, Super Collider, reunites Mustaine once again with guitarist Chris Broderick, bassist David Ellefson, and drummer Shawn Drover. Released in June, Super Collider debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, Megadeth's highest chart debut since 1994's Youthanasia.